C) Title-page from Robert Fergusson Poems, Edinburgh, 1773 - Literature, History and Music

This autographed dedicatory poem is by Fergusson and is to Gavin Wilson, a cobbler who also wrote poetry. This is on the first edition of Fergusson's first book. In all, Fergusson left behind about eighty poems in English and Scots, the best of which can stand beside those of Burns. In an inscription in his copy of Fergusson's Poems Burns called him: 'My elder brother in misfortune/By far my elder brother in the muse.' From the Middle Ages to the present day Scottish literature and music has been affected by outside influences and how those outsiders have received Scottish work. The most noticeable change is the move from Latin or French to works in broad Scots or English. Fergusson was born in Edinburgh in 1750. He displayed poetical and academic talent from an early age, and studied at St Andrews University between 1765 and 1768. Returning to Edinburgh, he could not decide on any settled career, but became socially very successful, writing journalism and poetry. However, he increasingly lived to excess, and died in an Edinburgh madhouse in 1774 at the age of 24.

Collection

Treasures: National Library of Scotland

Inventory Number

4502102

Title

C) Title-page from Robert Fergusson Poems, Edinburgh, 1773 - Literature, History and Music

Object Type

PhysicalObject

Measurements

- 197 x 171mm